Iron Forging Museum

Discover the traditional life of Blacksmiths in Kropa

Address
Kovaški muzej Kropa
4245 Kropa
Slovenia

Culinary aspects
A cozy family inn Pr Kovač (meaning At the Blaksmith's) is a great local restaurant with traditional dishes from Slovenia and Kropa. A wine cellar with great Slovenian wines is located in the basement. An Inn is open every day, except on Mondays from 10:00 to 23:00.

Insider Tips
Take a guided tour around the museum (make prior arrangement!). This will give you a great insight into the everyday life in this village, much more than the museum collection itself.

The Iron Forging Museum is located inside a traditional iron mill owner’s house known as Klinar House. It is located in the central part of Kropa. The house itself was built during the 18th century and it is a great representation of the traditional architecture of Kropa, which was deeply influenced by the iron-forging industry.

Collections in the Iron Forging Museum

The museum is divided into three parts: the first one includes an ethnological collection which represents the daily lives of blacksmiths and their families. The second section is dedicated to the iron forging art items.

The third part offers a great insight into the process of iron forging. The museum was also the first technical museum in Slovenia, and for that reason, it holds a huge cultural and historical value.

The museum offers guided tours in a variety of different languages but you must make a prior arrangement. Some parts of the collections are translated into English and German. Combined tickets for the spike making workshop (Vigenjc Vice) are also available here, but this forge can be seen only with a local guide.

Vigenjc Vice – Unique Vice Forge

Vigenjc Vice is a unique technical monument and the only preserved spike-forge for manual spike forging. This is actually nothing more than a half wooden and half brick house from the 18th century where the spikes were forged for centuries. The interior is very simple and can be seen as part of the guided tour in Kropa. The spike making process can also be displayed as part of the arranged visit.

“Vigenjc” is a traditional Slovenian name for spike. Spikes were once the most important product of Kropa, as they were sold in big quantities and to numerous companies around the world. Traditional blacksmiths machines from the 19th century are still located inside the Vice.

Opening hours

January and February:
Tuesday to Friday: from 8:00 to 15:00
March and April, November and December:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:00 – 15:00; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 12:00 and 15:00- 17:00
May – October:
Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00

How to get there

Kropa can be easily accessed by car. It is located just a few kilometres from Bled and Radovljica and about 50 km from Ljubljana. Hop-on-hop-off bus takes visitors from Bled to Kropa and to other small villages nearby.